England will on Thursday continue to ponder its selection options for the third Test in Perth, where it will attempt to resurrect its flagging Ashes campaign.

While Australia's players let their 2-0 series lead sink in and take a couple of days off to enjoy the second Test victory in Adelaide, the tourists have been roundly criticised for conservative selections in the first two Test defeats.

They must now consider their personnel for the third Test, which starts at the WACA next Thursday.

England must win at least two of the last three Tests and avoid any more defeats if it is to retain the Ashes.

Its fringe players will on Thursday train in preparation for Friday's festival match at Lilac Hill, where an ECB XI will play a Cricket Australia chairman's XI.

Monty Panesar, Sajid Mahmood, Ed Joyce, Liam Plunkett and Chris Read are all expected to play, having sat out the first two Tests.

Former skipper Michael Vaughan is also expected to play as he continues recuperating from knee surgery.

Vaughan made nine in his second comeback match on Wednesday - against a Western Australia second XI - and is also hoping to play in England's two-day tour match against WA, which starts on Saturday.

Queensland allrounder Shane Watson will on Thursday press for selection in the Bulls' one-day match against Victoria on Friday, which would be the 25-year-old's only warm-up game before a possible Test recall.

Watson missed the first two Tests because of a hamstring strain.

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